Resurrection In Bloom
Honorable Mention of the 2026 Student Art Contest
Artist's Statement:
When the thief asked, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” he demonstrated great faith. His faith symbolizes a hope for resurrection. For me, Easter is a time of celebration and rising to new life, just as Jesus did. When I am home with my family, we dye and paint eggs, a Polish tradition, as a symbol of the new life that awaits both Jesus and us after His resurrection.
I wanted to illustrate this hope and celebration on my crucifix by using colorful floral patterns, taking inspiration from a small village in Poland called Zalipie, which I had the opportunity to visit this past summer. The houses in Zalipie are decorated with vibrant flower motifs, a tradition that started as a way to beautify both the inside and outside of homes and has been sustained by the families still living there. Flowers also seemed fitting, as their blooming in springtime reminds me of growing and preparing to enter into new life throughout the Lenten season.
The three flowers in the center represent Jesus and the two sinners who were crucified with Him, painted red as a symbol of His Passion. The twelve flowers that border the crucifix follow Jesus’s journey to His death, representing the Stations of the Cross. Together, these elements transform the crucifix into a representation of Christ’s suffering and the hope of new life that His resurrection promises.